Savage: The Battle for Newerth vs Heroes of Newerth
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Savage: The Battle for Newerth is a groundbreaking multiplayer title developed by S2 Games that seamlessly combines first-person shooter mechanics with real-time strategy elements. Players can choose to fight on the frontline as a combatant or take on the role of a Commander to manage resources, construct bases, and direct team strategy from a top-down perspective. Originally released in September 2003 and later made open source, the game has been continuously improved by its dedicated community and the Savage XR team. Set in a rich universe blending fantasy and science fiction, it offers a unique competitive warfare experience that earned critical acclaim and multiple Independent Games Festival awards.
Heroes of Newerth (HoN) is a free‑to‑play multiplayer online battle arena that launched in 2010 for Linux, PC, and Mac. It offers a roster of over 70 heroes, each with unique abilities, and pits two teams of five against each other in intense, objective‑focused matches. The game emphasizes high skill ceilings, fast respawns, and a competitive ladder, catering to both casual pick‑up games and serious esports competition. Its community‑driven updates keep the meta fresh and the experience engaging.
- Innovative blend of RTS and FPS genres
- Award-winning independent game design
- Free and open-source community support
- Engaging team-based tactical gameplay
- High skill ceiling rewards mastery
- Cross‑platform support includes Linux
- Robust competitive ladder and ranking system
- Active community with regular updates
- Released in an unpolished initial state lacking basic tutorials
- Steep learning curve for new players
- Dated graphics compared to modern titles
- Steep learning curve for new players
- Microtransactions limited to cosmetics only
- Occasional matchmaking imbalances
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Savage: The Battle for Newerth
View all →A fast‑paced, skill‑driven MOBA that blends hack‑and‑slash action with strategic depth
Alternatives to Heroes of Newerth
View all →An innovative hybrid of first-person shooter and real-time strategy gameplay set in a fantasy sci-fi world.
A fast‑paced fantasy MOBA that pits mythic heroes against each other in epic battles
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataSavage: The Battle for Newerth offers a free, hybrid FPS‑RTS experience with steep learning and dated graphics, while Heroes of Newerth provides a free‑to‑play MOBA with cross‑platform support and regular updates but includes cosmetic microtransactions.
Key differences
- •Genre: Savage blends FPS and RTS; Heroes is a MOBA.
- •Pricing model: Savage is completely free and open‑source; Heroes is freemium with optional cosmetic purchases.
- •Platform support: Heroes runs natively on Linux, Windows, macOS; Savage’s platform list isn’t specified.
- •Release era and graphics: Savage (2003) has dated graphics; Heroes (2010) is newer with more modern visuals.
- •Community focus: Savage relies on community‑driven patches; Heroes receives regular official balance patches and seasonal events.
Gameplay & fun factor
Savage uniquely mixes FPS combat with RTS base‑building, offering a hybrid experience not found in Heroes.
Platform availability
Heroes explicitly supports Linux, Windows, and macOS; no platform details are given for Savage.
Price & value
Savage is fully free with no microtransactions; Heroes is freemium with optional cosmetic purchases.
Multiplayer / co‑op
Both are multiplayer‑focused; Savage emphasizes team‑based tactical play, Heroes adds matchmaking and ladder systems.
Content & replayability
Heroes receives regular balance patches, seasonal events, and mod support, extending long‑term replay value.
Difficulty & accessibility
Both have steep learning curves, but Heroes offers matchmaking and ranking to ease new players; Savage lacks tutorials.
Graphics & performance
Heroes, released in 2010, has newer graphics than Savage’s 2003 engine, which is described as dated.
Choose Savage: The Battle for Newerth if…
Players who want a free, hybrid FPS‑RTS experience and don’t mind older graphics.
Choose Heroes of Newerth if…
Players seeking a modern MOBA with cross‑platform support, regular updates, and optional cosmetics.
Common questions
Is there any cost to play either game?
Savage is completely free; Heroes is free‑to‑play but offers optional cosmetic microtransactions.
Which game runs on Linux?
Heroes of Newerth runs natively on Linux; platform support for Savage is not specified.
Do either games provide tutorials for new players?
Savage launched without basic tutorials, making it harder for newcomers; Heroes’ matchmaking and ranking system helps ease new players, though no specific tutorial is mentioned.